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Bob in Iowa

Nov 30, 1919, 12:00 AM

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Good places to get stuff

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I love sampling the foods around Mexicon, and have more or less kept track of good places to find stuff. While these are certainly not the only places and possibly not the best places to find these, they are the tops of my list. I'm sure others have suggestions about these and others.
--Garlic ropes: While these must be available at other places, the best sspot I have found is along the four lane highway between Monterrey and Saltillo. If you're planning to carry them for long distances, tightly wrap in two or three plastic bags.
--Glorias: The main city for these praline-like confections is Linares, N.L. Wonderful fresh ones are sold by guys along the highway.
--Limes: The production epicenter is the State of Colima along the Pacific Coast. They're available fresh, and semi-loads are sent around Mexico.
--Sea Salt: Large bags are for sale cheap (4 for 10 pesos) along the highway between Armeria and Tecoman in the State of Colima. It comes from the production facility at Cuyutlan.
--Langostinos: This freshwater cousin of the lobster and crawfish can be found around Mexico, but the best place I have found is at a little restaurant called Bocatoma II. About 25 miles north of Cd. Mante, Tam. go west towards the little town of Gomez Farias. After a couple of miles, go left on a bumpy gravel road - usually there are a couple of seafood restaurant signs at the turn. Follow the road through a little village and continue on to a Bocatoma II sign, where you turn right. Follow it on the the restaurant, which is amid lovely grounds and an aquaculture set-up. The restaurant is simple, but the food is great. Note: langostinos are expensive even here - 120 pesos for a half a kilo. The fish filets are a bargain, though. Oh yeah, the last time I checked, it's only open from Thursday through Sunday, but another one in town may be open all week.
--Cabrito: Roasted young goat is easily found south of Saltillo in roadside restaurants. Concepcion del Oro, Zac. has places in town and along the highway that serve it.
--Tangerines: Mountainsides are covered with trees from Tamazunchale S.L.P. north for 100 miles. Luscious, and ripe right now.
--Honey: Widely available, but but roadside stands south of Cd. Victoria have a wonderful, spicy variety, presumably from orange blossoms and cactus flowers.
--Coffee: Straight Mexican coffee is admittedly iffy, bur pretty good coffee can be bought at the drying/roasting business in Comala, Col. Just walking in overwhelms you with the aroma. It's on Constituccion #25. Note that this is forest friendly "shade gowen" coffee. And while in Comala, check out the...
--Botanas: Several bars in Comala are famous for their afternoon "snacks." Buy a beverage, and they start hauling out free tacos, tostadas, flautas, guacamole - all you can eat. There are at least tow of these on the square, but our favorite is right across the bridge going towards the City of Colima. Not only free food, but often, excellent live music.